Mormon Church Cuts Ties with Boy Scouts of America for Older Teens

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) The Mormon church will no longer be involved with the Boys Scouts when it comes to older teens. In an announcement from church headquarters in Salt Lake city this morning, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officials say the church will not sponsor Varsity and Varsity Venturing Programs beginning next year.

In a letter from the church's higher authority, teens will not be discouraged from continuing their efforts to obtain ranks as Eagle Scout or Queen Scout. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will continue to be supported by the LDS Church, according to the statement.

The church said it is trying to improve it's service to families and young people and have provided guidelines for an alternative program to fulfill that need. You can find that HERE.

In recent years the Boy Scouts of America implemented new policies to welcome gay and transgender scouts, as well as leaders, that is contrary to Mormon beliefs and other Christian churches. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas recently announced it will cut ties with Girl Scouts of America because of programs and materials that are "reflective of many of the troubling trends in our secular culture, they are no longer a compatible partner in helping us form young women with the virtues and values of the Gospel"